Orient Watch Giveaway – October 2011

The Orient Watch Company has a dedicated following for good reason. They’re the only watchmaker whose foundation is a wide range of incredible looking affordable automatics, & now they’ve partnered up with us to give away a different watch for an entire year. Every month we’ll review and give away a different featured watch, plus you’ll also get a new promo code good for 50% off ANY watch at OrientWatchUSA.com for that month.

This is a beast of a watch. Not in a comically over-sized way, but it is a substantial dive watch that feels like it could withstand anything thrown at it. Literally. Like a brick. I’d do it myself but I doubt whoever wins this thing would appreciate having it undergone completely unnecessary masonry fire.

The M-Force is one of Orient’s top of the line time pieces. You can feel the difference between it and other less expensive watches, no matter the brand. It has an undeniably solid weight to it. It’s listed at 46mm in diameter, but it doesn’t look that much bigger than a 42.5mm Seiko 5 SNZJ. Even when set side by side with an under 40mm lightweight Swiss Army, it doesn’t overpower in diameter.

It’s not a chronograph so the dial is far from too busy. The power reserve indicator shows you how much of the 40 hrs of power you have left, it self winds, and you can hand wind it if you like. The bezel and crown have this high quality automotive feel to them. The notched bezel’s 60 clicks are precise and oddly satisfying to hear. Like popping miniscule metallic bubble wrap if there were such a thing. It might be strange to drool over a crown, but the orange striped and textured knob leaves no doubt that the threads are catching when you screw it down. It’s hackable too.

Sapphire crystal, water resistant to 200m, and shock absorbent. Also available with a black dial or a very dive ready orange, which matches the second hand and crown stripe nicely. The links are a brushed matte, but it still stands out. Not for those who prefer subtle & smaller timepieces. This watch is many things, but ignorable isn’t one of them.

Here’s how to win the M-Force seen here: Send an email to contests@dappered.com with the subject: Orient October. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET on 10/4/11

UPDATE: Congrats to Reg W. who won the drawing for the M-Force. Five down, seven more months to go…

Seriously, though, you’ve really sold me on this watch, Joe. I was unsure at first glance (beautiful, but I’m not really a diver watch kinda guy), but your review has really swayed my opinion! I’m looking forward to see what next month’s review/giveaway will be!

I think the new “Ray” model on the OWUSA site is probably my favorite of their diver models at the moment. It’s halfway between the Mako and the more classic Seiko SKX007/Submariner – and still a wearable size for those of us with tiny wrists.